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The number of complaints against Bulgaria before the European Court of Human Rights has been significantly reduced. According to the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice, this is a result of sending Bulgarian judges and experts for a placement at the Court.

Over the last few years, nine Bulgarian judges have been placed in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg for up to one year. The objective has been to improve the competence of the judges and the Bulgarian court system in order to enable Bulgaria to comply with and implement the European Convention on Human Rights.

"Earlier people in need of legal assistance had to send a written application to us that had to be considered before advice could be provided. Now people call from all over the country and receive instant help from our lawyers.

Two regional legal aid centres and a national telephone hotline offering legal advice to people in difficult situations are established as new services in Bulgaria. These services have been so successful that they will now be continued and expanded.Access to justice is a fundamental right. Lack of knowledge about rights and low income can prevent individuals, especially from vulnerable backgrounds, from seeking legal advice.

Internship for government agents under Activity 6.2Pre-defined Project 3 “Strengthening the capacity for the execution of judgments of the european court of human rights”NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014

Topics on the curriculum: Environment and law: responsability and participation.

About the Conference: Some 300 participants in the conference in Strasbourg on 13-14 October – open to the media – assessed serious ramifications to free expression from such recent events as the brutal assault against Charlie Hebdo journalists in Paris in January.Attorney at Law of Charlie Hebdo, Richard Malka, European Court of Human Rights judges, national judges, journalists and representatives from media freedom organisations, governments and international organisations attended this Conference.

Prisoners producing solar panelsIn Sofia prison in Bulgaria’s capital a new green production facility is set up. The prisoners now get valuable training producing solar panel collectors and water heaters.

Minister of Justice, Hristo Ivanov, gave a presentation in the Norwegian Residence yesterday about the Norway Grants' contribution to increase the capacity in the judiciary and the support to correctional services including non-costodial sanctions. Read the statement from the Minister with concrete examples of results so far: http://www.justice.government.bg/117/8494/

19.11.2015

Today, Ambassador Guro Katharina Vikør visited Sofia prison to see the results of the «construction of green production workshop” project. The Norway grants funded project has established an environmental friendly workshop in Sofia prison. Here the prisoners can manufacture solar panels and water heaters, which combined produce power for heating and hot water. The project also has an important social impact as the prisoners acquire new skills that will come in handy when they finish their sentence and return to the labour market.

18.11.2015

On 17 and 18 September the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR) is hosting a study visit by a Bulgarian delegation under a project initiative of the Bulgarian Ministry of Justice concerning legal human rights education.

This initiative, entitled Enhancing the Effectiveness of the University Education on the ECHR, is initiated by the Bulgarian Government Agent’s Office and it aims to explore the Norwegian system and particular approaches to human rights university education.

Internship for government agents under Activity 6.2PRE-DEFINED PROJECT 3“STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY FOR THE EXECUTION OF JUDGMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS”NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014

Citizens Network Watchdog Poland and the Stefan Batory Foundation invite you to the International Watchdog Forum, which will be held in Warsaw on 25 – 26 September 2015. This is not only a great opportunity to get to know each other better, but also to discuss with organizations from across Europe on issues related to civil control and tools of watchdog activity.

Internship for government agents under Activity 6.2 PRE-DEFINED PROJECT 3 “STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY FOR THE EXECUTION OF JUDGMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS” NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014 Fact sheet

Internship for government agents under Activity 6.2 - VenicePRE-DEFINED PROJECT 3“STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY FOR THE EXECUTION OF JUDGMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS”NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014

Internship for government agents under Activity 6.2 - VenicePRE-DEFINED PROJECT 3“STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY FOR THE EXECUTION OF JUDGMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS”NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014

Internship for government agents under Activity 6.2 - AustriaPRE-DEFINED PROJECT 3“STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY FOR THE EXECUTION OF JUDGMENTS OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS”NORWEGIAN FINANCIAL MECHANISM 2009-2014

Study visit to the Netherlands for the delegation of the National Legal Aid Bureau of Bulgaria

A study visit to the Netherlands for the delegation of the National Legal Aid Bureau of Bulgaria (NLAB) was organised by the Council of Europe in the framework of the Pre-defined Project n.4 “Improving the access to legal aid for vulnerable groups by means of piloting a hotline for primary legal aid and creation of regional consultation centres” funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014.

35 psychologists from General Directorate “Execution of sentences” took part in the second training under pre-defined project “Improving the competences of staff in psychological selection and counselling”, financed by Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014

Participation of a Representative of the Bulgarian Government Agent’s Office in a Meeting of the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights and the Government Agents of Council of Europe’s Member States

On 18th November 2014, a government agent participated in the regular annual Agents’ Meeting with the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France as a representative of the Bulgarian Office.

The Ministry of Justice as a Programme Operator of Programme BG 15 "Correctional Services Including Non-Custodial Measures" of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 announces the Open call for project proposals within Small Grant Scheme of Programme BG 15 "Correctional Services Including Non-Custodial Measures".

Zinaida Zlatanova: the guarantees for Independence of the magistrates must be in the center of the ongoing judicial reform

01.04.2014

"The superiority of the law is the basis not only of law, but also is a way to sustainable development, economic growth and confidence in the judiciary," it said Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister Zinaida Zlatanova today at the opening of the international conference "Integrity of the magistrates'

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PARTICIPATION OF A GOVERNMENT AGENT IN THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - CDDH8th-10th April 2014, Oslo, Norway

Minister Zinaida Zlatanova opened the round table on "Application of electronic surveillance in the Bulgarian Law on Execution of Sentences"

"The introduction of electronic bracelets are part of the concept that prison should be considered as a last resort in carrying out the punishment. Electronic monitoring will reduce costs and to partially solve the problem of prison overcrowding"

Ms. Irina Ganeva, Ms. Iliyana Baltova and Ms. Tsveta Jeliazkova are the first three of nine Bulgarian judges to work at the institution as part of a predefined project within the Judicial Capacity-building and Cooperation Programme.

"Human rights are protected every day , every moment, they are not something that is given once and for all, they are always threatened," said Vice-Minister of Justice Sabrie Sapundjieva in his speech at the initiation of a first Forum for Justice and Human Rights, launched today at the Grand hotel "Sofia". 24.03.2014

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Study visits in Poland and Italy under a Bulgarian Project under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014

Study visits in Poland and Italy were conducted between 17-21 February 2014г and 24-28 February 2014 under the NFM Project implemented by “General Directorate “Security” at the Мinister of Justice, Bulgaria.

Opening conference of the project"Strengthening the national compensatory measures for compensation for alleged violations of the Conventionon Human Rightsand FundamentalFreedoms of the Council of Europeand the capacity to implement the decisionsof the ECHR."